[ LETTERS ]

Tackling road safety

A law targeting the use of mobile phones while driving (“Law targets all use of mobiles while driving,” April 6, page 1) will provide another example of both the common disregard for the law and its arbitrary application, which is so prevalent in Taiwan.

I am sure most readers will have witnessed this, whether it be when trying to use a pedestrian crossing or casually observing the police as they drive around, lights ablaze and three to a car.

The proposed legislation is common sense, yet it will, in all probability, reinforce the general attitude toward the lax adherence and enforcement of the law.

If the authorities were serious about this matter, they would propose a blanket ban on the tinting of car windows (How can the police apprehend offenders otherwise?), consider more serious fines or punishments (How about a NT$10,000 fine and/or loss of one’s license?) and incentives for the police to actually start enforcing the law (Perhaps a percentage of any fine imposed). And while they are at it, they might also like to think about banning TVs in the front of vehicles.

I know it is “convenient” to be able to watch one’s favorite South Korean drama while waiting at a red light, but seriously, if safety were paramount, a lot more could be done.

If the authorities in Taiwan are really interested in road safety, there should be a coordinated campaign of road safety education combined with tougher penalties that are more rigorously enforced.

Ainesley Crabbe

Huwei, Yunlin County

Missed opportunity

It totally amazes me that people are so surprised by the non-action of vice president-elect Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in the past months. China’s latest jab should come as no surprise and did demand a reaction. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has been leaning more and more toward the sphere of Beijing’s influence over the past few years.

Comments by some of the “old timers” and the actions of many younger officials do not require a rocket scientist to realize how they want things to go.

The president has been a known quantity for some time and his vice president-elect has been a staunch supporter. It is only my humble opinion that Taiwanese need to open their eyes and see what is going on.

On the day of the election, I sat in a small breakfast shop and watched the crowds line up to vote in a district of Greater Taichung. I marveled at the numbers who returned to their home of record to cast their vote. Both my wife and I hoped that a change for the better was in the making. However, too few saw what was really there and, well, the rest is history.

I hope that somehow things can be turned around and Taiwan can take its rightful place among nations. Hopefully people will wake up before Taiwan is given away.

Tom Kuleck

Greater Taichung

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